Ash-conveying system.



A. P. STHGNG.

ASH CONVEHNG SYSTEM.

APPLiCATInN FILED MAR. l 1,243,893

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. P. STRONG.

ASH CONVEYING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. s, 1911.

1,243,893. Patented om. 23, i917 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. charged. molnted in especially designed fittings, lol UNITED STATES vParana."r OFFICE. i

ARTHUR P. STRONG', 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB. T0 GREEN ENGINEERING COI-l PANY, OF EAST CHICAGO, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ASH-CONVEYING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917;

1'0 alla' whom i# may concern.'

Be it known that I, ARTHUR P. STRONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ash-Conveying Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in conveying systems for ashes and like abrasive material, and more particularly to the tings provided with upwardly facing openings, normally closed bynsuitable plug or othergclosure, said plugs 'being removed and the ashes introducedV into the conduit through said intake openings. The conduit iso provided with intake fittings com municates with a suitable disposal tank or receptacle into which the ashes are dis- `The steam nozzles are preferably cat, dat one or more predetermined points alongthehorizontal conduitfand ad] acent to or intermediate the intake fittings. Persons familiar with the properties of steam-are well aware that steam under pressure is discharged from a nozzle or through' a small orifice at a high velocity, which de creases as the steam expands-#that is, there existsan inverse relation between the volumei and velocity of the steam jet, dependent upon the initial pressure size of the oritice, as well as other factors. The discharge of the steam at the high velocity along the conduit and its expansive property has the zorital conduit 10, preferably comprising effect of carrying with it the air and material beh-ind it, thus treating the suction or partial vacuum in the conduit, whereby the `motive or impelling power of the system ils produced. inasmuch as the'steam is confined iu a passage or conduit of uniform d1 ameter or capacity, and the volume of material carried thereby is variable, depending on the amount of ash discharged intethe conduit at a given instant, a condition arises within the conduit which will be understood from the following. At a point some distance beyond the nozzle or point f discharge, the velocity' of the steam is reduc-.ed to substantially the velocity of the mate rial, and hence its power or propulsion expended. The volume of the steam, however, has increased with the decrease of velocity, and, as a result, pressure is created within the conduit which cannot be relieved or reduced, by condensation or by discharge from the outlet end of the conduit, owing to the size of the conduit and the comparatively lar e volume of steam discharged into it. It ollows, therefore, thatthis pressure, if not relieved, tends to retard the movement: through the conduit, and creates what is commonly known as back pressure, a condition which affects and reduces the eiciency of the system to a considerable degree. In order, therefore, to eliminate this disadvantageous condition of back pressure, it is the purpose of this invention to provide, at predetermined points in the conduit, auxiliary means whereby the back pressure can be re- `ingthe purposes above set forth is hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whe-rein* Figure 1 is a view in. elevation of the principal portions o f 'a conveying system, showing the relation f a relief pipe and parts thereof to theel'ements of the system; Fig. 2 is an enlarged' view of a special `fitting used in connection with a relief ipe;

Fi 3 is a. cross-sectional view o the relie pipe fitting, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; i

Fig. 4 is a view in longitudinal section of a straight line nozzle fitting; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle fitting, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

As illustrated in the drawings, a hori- 'metal pipe sections joined end to end by the its discharge end with a suitable disposal tank, through the medium of other conduits, such as a vertical riser l1.y At several points along the conduit 10 are located a plurality usual flanged connections, communicates at the wear scftion of intake fittings 12, said fittings being' of..

any suitable construction, embracing an upwardly opening, funnel shaped 'passage communicatingr with the interior oli the conduit, there being also provided a suitable plug; or closure for closing the, intake opening,r when the same is not being used.

In addition to the intake fittings 12, the horizontal conduit 10 is further Iprovided with one or more socalled steam -jet fittings 13', preferably located adjacent one or more of the intake fittings and preferably bey ond the same in the direction of -flow o't' the matcrial. These steam jet fittings v(Figs. 1 and 5) have the form of short pipe sections or casiiigs 14:, each prorided about its cir-- riuniti-.rence with a plurality ol' steam nozzles l5, rigidly n'iountcd in no/.zle casinos 16, 16 integral .With the fitting' and inclined at an angle to the axis of the. fitting, so as to position the .nozzles in such a manner as to direct the steanl` jets axially of the fitting so near as possibi and in the direction of flow of the material. These fittings, furthermore, arc provided with a haud-hole 17, normally covered by a hand-hole plate 18, adapted to be 1'en'io\'ed whenadjustment o1' renewal oi' the nozzles is ln-.cessare Located beyond the steam jet fitting '13, and at a distance determined by conditions of' steam pressure available, the diameter of' the conduit, etc., is a fitting 19 (Figs. l, 2. and comprising' in general a comparatirel) short straight pipe section 20 provided intermediate its ends with an upwardly extending' and rearmu'dliY inclimid brauch pipe. or connection 2l, the axis of said branch being,r preferably inclined at an angle, ol` 45' lo lho axis of the Straight scetion .20 and' in a direction to 'ard the steam jet. fitting 13 with which the branch fitting is associated.

As apreferable construction, the branch fit'tiug'is provided along` lhe bottom wall of (he straight portion it) with a wear section JLA extendingr -l`rom a point immediately below lhr opening' ol' the branch pipe .51 substantially to the end of (he. straight section distant from .said brauch. rl`he wear section is constructed olA a har-l metal adapted lo resist [he abrasiw action ol' the material, and forms the surface ol' said straight portion below the center-line (hereol'. 'l`lu` wear section 2Q iS preterablv removable` there. being provided a corel' plate. 2? extending' over an openingV below the wear section and removably Secured lo the. pipe section by means ol` the usual arrangement ol'` lugs. as al '34. llxtrnding through thi: 'o\'er plate Q25 and through the sii es ol" Athe wall olI lhe pipe section` are enillrenientliy positioned set screws "25, adapted to bear agaiufl Ihe \\rarseclion and lo'hold the same. in pmilion. 'lhe purpose oll locating lal this particular point in the pipe line' will be understood from the description of tl .i function of the particular lit-ting off which il' terms a part. For the purpose of 'permitting 'access to thewear section without removing' the cover plate 23,'

there is provided in the top Wall ofthe straight portion 2() ol.' the fitting 19, a handhole. 36, normally closed by a cover plate 27 held in position by means of a locking bar :2H connected thereto at its centerp0int bv n'ieans of a bolt 2t) and by meansof locking shoulders 250 rast integral with the 'straight pipe section 2() adjacent the ends 'of the locking bar, the cover being released by loosening' of the bolt 2li and rotating the locking bar l'rom engagement with the shoulders 80.

Connnunicating with the rearwardly .inclined branch connection 2l of the fitting 1t), is a. pipe 31, the saine comprising a short curved section tern'iinating at its upper end'in a. rertical direction. The lower end of the curved pipe 3l is joined to the branch connection 21 by the usual flanged connections, and at its upper end is similarly joined to and communicates `with an enlarged pipe section or hollow drum 32, the same comprising a vertically arranged, cylindrie receptacle provided with a downwardly tapering or conical lower portion 33 terminating inan opening; of the same diameter as the pipe section 31 below Above the drum 52 is a vertical pipe 81 of a diameter smaller than the drum E52 and of the same diameter as the branch connection 21 'and the 'curved pipe section 31. The vertical pipe il extends upwardly to any desired height, as for instance through the rootI of the boileerooxm and terminates in or is open to the atmosphere. At the top of the vertical ipe 3l. is mounted a checkwalre or dainperppreferably consisting of a circular `flanged platev 35, pivotally mounted adjacent thg, edge of the end opening of said pipe and adapted to cover the opening at the end off'fthe pipe, and' a eounterweight 3G, mounted upon an arm 3i' integral with the plate, extending' outwardly beyond.A the point of pivotal connection. rl`he check-valve, through the, medium of" the eountenwcight 3G, which is adjustable along the arm 37, is adapted to automatically open and close the end l the* relief pipe, by the variation of pressure within the pipe.; thus, when the pressure within said pipe approaches 01' l'plls below Ihe pressure of the surrounding pv'nmsphere, the valve will close, thereby preventing a badiward flow'ol air or down dirait in the relief' pipe. 'lhi` Valve, how,

over, is so adjusted that it remains open under proper .operating conditions` and hence serves ehielli' in a preeaulionm'y eapaeitr.

lel'errinn now lo the l'nnrliou and ar rangfeunnl ol' the relief pipes. let it be are sinned that the steam, jets are in operation nd the system is in proper operating conv dition to handle :t quantity of ash. Upon opening one o'f the intake fittings and introducing a quantity of ash thereln, thensh is moved forwardly through the medium of the suction created in the conduit by the steam jets located beyond the intake litting, `the ash passing through the steai'u jet litting, Where it comes in Contact 'with the Steam jets and is picked up thereby undv moved forwardly 'at a great velocity@ A s the ashes and steam move beyond the steam jet fitting, the steam expands rapidly until a point is reached Where the expansion'of the steam is so great as to create excessive pressure Within 'the conduit and to create a back pressure therein, which has a tendency to oppose the low el team, air, and ash .in e forwardy direction and to thereby' re ucc the functioning of the sys i to ma f degree. It is at the point a Kiniuin pres sure Within the een'luit that the lunnch lit ting lll and the re et pine mrmiunicating therewith' are locat l The isc of' the relief pipe -somnninim W; 'through the medi 1n. of the branch connes 'tion 1.9 is to afford ineens :for relieving this excessive pressure, the relief pipe con.duct`A ing portion of the air end steam 'from the conduit and discharging it into the atmosphcre7 thereby eliminating the pres sure.

The purpose of providing e rearwandiy inclined or sloping 'brano' connection is to prevent, so fer as possible, the passage of eeh upwardly through the relief pipe, it being obvious that the material will be can ried beyond the opening ot the branch. conh ncctio'n owing to its inert its the stenen and snr crc ble ertcd in backward. el \n and carri-fl ugwerdly through the blc, however, that e "crtain amount oil liuc particles 03": escspe through the branch connection and be carried upwardly through the relief pipe. The presence of the drum 32, used for the' purpose of separating the ash particles from the air, preventsjthcm from. being carried upwardly thcrebeyond, inasmuch its increased volume allects a reduction oi the velocity of the nir therethrough to suc-b. an extent als to cause the particles of ash te lose their momentum and to drop by gravity to the bottoni of vthe drum, the slopingwalls the bottom thereof directing the ash into the pipe section 3l, whereupon the same will gradually End its l pipe. lt is pdss csh a Way back to the conduit und be carried forward vvith the main body of the material.

'It is apparent that, by reason-of the presence of the relier' pipe, there occurs in the -branch fitting 'i9 and immediately beyond material. For this reason a quantity of the ash will drop by gravity to the bottom of the pipe and be carried along in contact therewith until the stream and air have regained a velocity suilicient to pick up the :ish and hold the same in suspension. The presence of the Wear section at the bottom oi the branch fitting thus eliminates the Wearing effect of the ashes upon the bottom wall of the 'tting occasioned 'by the relief pipe and :for the reasons pointed out.

It is obvious from the description of the construction herein illustrated, that the ad vantages attending its use are directed toward, securing greater efficiency in opera.` tion, by the eliminating of the so-calledbeck pressure Within the conduit, to theend 'that lower steam pressures and reduced quantities of steam will produce the same results, with a materiel saving in steam consumption ller the reasons Pointed out, tl e Fiore,- a device embodying the features of the invention en advantageous adjunct to conveying s of the steam jet type, the seme hat4 its ultimate function the secr ng o efficiencyv of operation redu c n of cost of maintenance of the entire ash conveying system. l

I claim. my invention:

1. An :ish conveying system, comprising e conduit, Ineens `for introducing steam Vinto said conduit, a relief pipe communicating at one end with said conduit adjacent the 'point of introduction of the steam and atl its other end with the atmosphere, and an enlarged drum located intermediate the ends of scid relief pipe.

.en ash conveying system, comprising e conduit, I uns orintroducing steam into scid u, relief pipe communicating with. .said conduit ami with the atmosphere, tue portion of said pipe adjacent the conduit being inclined rearwardly to the directloli Gf drum located intermediate the ends of said pipe and adjacent said inclined portionV a. conduit, a nozzle mtunted 1n saidconduit and adapted to inject Vsteam longitudinally thereof, a pipe connected with said conduit at a predetermined point beyond said nozzle in the direction f flow of the Steam and incl-ined rearvva ily toward said nozzie, said-pipe comm ,nicatin'g with the atlcvz' oi' the steam, and an enlargedl 4. An ash conveying systemrngmprising mosphere aiid provided intermediate its ends as my inventioil, I aiix my slignaturein the with un enlargedi drum, und u cheek-valve presence of 'two Witnesses, this 1st day of 10 mounted at the dlseharge end of ssid pipe, March, A. I). 1917.

and a counter-weight acting to e ect theI s opening and closing of said valve with the AR'I HUR P' bTRONG' CIT changes in the air pressure in the pipe rela- Witnesses: tive to atmospheric pressure. ALBERT M. BURKE, J r., In testimony that I claim the foregoing FREMAN O. FARNHAM, 

